The Importance Of Reading

!±8± The Importance Of Reading

It is a well-known fact that when there were no televisions or computers, reading was a primary leisure activity. People would spend hours reading books and travel to lands far away-in their minds. The only tragedy is that, with time, people have lost their skill and passion to read. There are many other exciting and thrilling options available, aside from books. And that is a shame because reading offers a productive approach to improving vocabulary and word power. It is advisable to indulge in at least half an hour of reading a day to keep abreast of the various styles of writing and new vocabulary.

It is observed that children and teenagers who love reading have comparatively higher IQs. They are more creative and do better in school and college. It is recommended that parents to inculcate the importance of reading to their children in the early years. Reading is said to significantly help in developing vocabulary, and reading aloud helps to build a strong emotional bond between parents and children. The children who start reading from an early age are observed to have good language skills, and they grasp the variances in phonics much better.

Reading helps in mental development and is known to stimulate the muscles of the eyes. Reading is an activity that involves greater levels of concentration and adds to the conversational skills of the reader. It is an indulgence that enhances the knowledge acquired, consistently. The habit of reading also helps readers to decipher new words and phrases that they come across in everyday conversations. The habit can become a healthy addiction and adds to the information available on various topics. It helps us to stay in-touch with contemporary writers as well as those from the days of yore and makes us sensitive to global issues.

The Importance Of Reading

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How to Tell If There's a Mouse in Your House

!±8± How to Tell If There's a Mouse in Your House

You've just settled down in bed and are twenty minutes into Letterman when you hear it: a light scratching overhead, accompanied by a squeak here and a squeal there. You assume that it's the wind making strange noises (after all, it is windy tonight!), or perhaps the house is just settling (you do live in an older home, so it would make sense...). Maybe the sounds are just the result of an overactive imagination. You hope!

Of course, you just can't get around the obvious conclusion - you have company. Whether it's a bird, a bat, a squirrel, or an entire family of mice, there's something up there. Given that you've had recurrent rodent problems, the latter option is probably the safest bet.

However, how can you be sure what type of animal you're dealing with - assuming that you even have unwelcome visitors at all? Before you can evict them, you need to know who "they" are.

Above all else, your first step is to inspect your home for signs of mice. Different problems call for different solutions; if your visitors are actually squirrels instead of mice, you'll need to develop a different strategy.

When canvassing your home, keep an eye out for these seven telltale signs:

1. Droppings and urine

Mouse droppings resemble a grain of rice; they are approximately the same size, but are black in color. Mice will not generally travel across open spaces, so you're more likely to find droppings along walls, pipes, and beams, as well as in storage areas and next to objects. "Urine pillars" are less common; they consist of mounds of grease, urine, and dirt. You can also use a blacklight to find individual urine droppings.

2. Chew marks

Look for tooth marks and wood shavings (similar in consistency to sawdust) around doors, baseboards, and cabinets. Marks on food containers can also be a clue that you have company.

3. Grease marks

When traveling alongside pipes, beams, and walls, mice may leave greasy smear marks, as dirt and oil from their fur rubs off onto the surfaces.

4. Tracks

Footprints and tail marks on dirty, dusty, or muddy surfaces can indicate activity. If you suspect that mice have taken up residence in an otherwise impeccably clean area of your house, lay down a sprinkling of talc to catch them in the act.

5. Nests

Mice construct nests of shredded paper and similar debris; check attics, basements, garages, storage areas, closets, and other dark, enclosed places for nests or "stolen" materials.

6. Sounds

You're more likely to hear squeaks and squawks at night, when the house is quiet and your guests are active.

7. Sightings

It's not uncommon to see mice during the day; although they are largely nocturnal, they do move about in daylight.

Now that you're certain that you're dealing with mice, it's time to start strategizing. Your plan of attack will actually come in three phases: first you need to clean up the messes you found; next, you must trap and release your unwelcome visitors; and finally, you'll mouse-proof your house so they can't get back in (and wouldn't want to, even if they could!). Good luck!

How to Tell If There's a Mouse in Your House

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Manley's Construction - Breathe Easy Radon Testing - Breathe Easy Cleaning - Kalona, IA

!±8± Manley's Construction - Breathe Easy Radon Testing - Breathe Easy Cleaning - Kalona, IA

Manley's Construction - Breathe Easy Radon Testing - Breathe Easy Cleaning 319-631-5887 www.yellowbook.com

Manley's Construction - Breathe Easy Radon Testing - Breathe Easy Cleaning - Kalona, IA

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Home Value Trends in Iowa

!±8± Home Value Trends in Iowa

Don't give too much credence to the various doom and gloom predictions of the last year or two about the United State's real estate market. Home value prices aren't drastically dropping, the market isn't crashing and the housing bubble isn't bursting. It's simply coming down and leveling out from an uncharacteristic boom of the last decade or so. Besides, knowing what the national medial home value is won't help you find the perfect new home and area for yourself.

Real estate is an investment, so it's important to invest somewhere your home is bound to gain value over the years. To do so, you have to examine the specific area you may be investing in. Take a look as past home value and sales trends. Then look at that area's economy, population changes, job opportunities, unemployment rates and the attractions the area offers. A strong combination of these factors will almost always indicate the potential for large home value appreciation over the years.

Iowa, with its capital of Des Moines, is a state lodged partway between the mid-west and the east coast and is influenced by both. Iowa was home to about 2,982,085 people in 2006 and continues to grow thanks to many factors, but not least of which is low home value averages and a growing economy. Iowa deals mostly with hogs, corn, soybeans, oats, cattle and dairy products on its agricultural side, while its industry sectors include food processing, machinery, electric equipment, chemical products, printing and publishing and primary metals. Although tourism isn't a major industry in the state, Iowa still has plenty to offer.

Any place that has attractions to offer visitors has a chance to draw in more and more residents. Obviously, the more in demand a spot is to live in, the higher the average home value is bound to be. While Iowa may not be an obvious vacation spot for most, it doesn't change the fact that the state has plenty to offer in the way of museums, festivals, theme parks, historical sites, water parks and state parks. National historic landmarks include old frontier farms, stations on the Underground Railroad and one of the most famous, the Amana Colonies, seven authentic German villages that were founded as a religious commune 150 years ago and still preserve their traditions, way of life and crafts. You can also retrace the steps of Lewis and Clark, catch a hint of the Old West at rodeos, horse ranches and cattle trails or get a taste of city life in Des Moines. There is of course camping, fishing, boating, hiking and other outdoor activities galore, and the metropolitan areas of the state offer plenty of night life (clubbing, bars, dining, music, etc) as well as shopping, exploring and family entertainment. While not traditionally thought of as a hot spot to visit, Iowa does have plenty of activities for anyone looking for a laid back, simple vacation.

Though Iowa may not have quite the tourist pull as other states, it's still doing fine in important matters of unemployment, income and economy (the things that really drive home value prices). Iowa's unemployment rate is down to about 3.6% and has seen a growth of job opportunities in sectors such as trade, transportation and utilities and leisure and hospitality, which may be an indication of a growing tourism sector. The median household income was projected to be about ,170 in 2005, but has actually declined from inflation adjusted values in 2000 to ,609. Iowa falls about in the middle when it comes to household income compared to other states.

The low cost of housing helps offset lower income, as the average home value sales price in April 2007 was only about 6,075 and in the 1st quarter of this year, the median home value of properties sold was only at about 0,000. As a matter of fact, all housing-related costs are low in Iowa, with only 12% of households spending more than 30% of their income on housing, which is the second lowest in the country. These facts show that although home value rates in Iowa are not appreciating noticeably (and in some areas seem to be decreasing) the cost of living is low enough to offset the low home value appreciation. Des Moines, the biggest city in Iowa, seems to be very affordable, with home value appreciation slow but steady over the last few months, and a median home value of about 9,000. Sioux City and Iowa City are the more pricey areas to live in the state, with median home values the past couple months of 9,178 and 5,831 respectively.

All in all, Iowa does not have the strongest real estate market nor highest home value appreciation in the country. There has been moderate decrease in some areas, while other areas have seen a modest increase in home value. However, with a growing job force, more employment opportunities and such a low cost of living (and housing for that matter) there is no reason why over the next year or so, people wouldn't want to at least visit the state. If Iowa can create more incentive to live there, there is no reason why a large influx of wannabe residents won't help get home value averages rising and the market going strong again.

Home Value Trends in Iowa

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House for sale: 721 Meadow Pl, Ames, IA - 6

!±8± House for sale: 721 Meadow Pl, Ames, IA - 6

1476 total SF finished, drive to end with no one behind or to the south, the latest on the main laminate, tile floors in bathrooms, finished painting neutral colors, updated kitchen, new appliances, tile backsplash, spacious rooms and closets, den basement and family room radon reduction system, newer mechanics. For more information www.JaredVanCleave.com. How much your house would bring in today's market? www.JaredsHomeValues.com

House for sale: 721 Meadow Pl, Ames, IA - 6

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Planning for the mitigation of radon in your new home

!±8± Planning for the mitigation of radon in your new home

The prevalence of radon gas in soil in areas around the United States is cause for growing concern. Radon is done as the number one cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers in a study at the University of Iowa.

If your house is expected in a high risk area, you must plan early to install a radon mitigation system. In many areas today, a test with any real estate transaction is needed in relation to residential properties and this is likely to expand even the mostareas at highest risk. In any case, your health is worth the small investment for an installed system.

Install the base system in a basement or slab-on-grade foundation is to insert a perforated pipe in gravel under the roof off and a link to the basement. This vent pipe to the outside (away from all windows in your home or your neighbor, preferably on the roof), includes a so-called passive radon mitigation knownSystem. When it is completed at home, a test that determines the levels are still too high, you may need an active radon mitigation by installing a fan that runs continuously, which creates low pressure under the plate and increases the rate of evacuation of gas converted. So you want to drive penetration in an area that is easily accessible and have the power to the fan.

Radon is found in varying degrees in almost all regions of the country. VisitEPA radon zone map at the link below.

Radon Zone Map Areas in pink, the greatest danger of orange and yellow below. Click here to check the level of specific risk in your community.

Many times the fan in the attic, especially if the disk-on-grade foundation or crawl space. Also, remember that you want to make sure that the vent on the roof you can drop the water pipe on the bottom plate, this would not be a good thing for manyReasons.

Design and installation of infrastructure for a passive system can be achieved for about $ 150 to $ 300. To save 150-300% the cost of adaptation. $ 550, depending on the size of your home - an active system will add $ 250 Download Build Radon Out. Your system Radon is a simple task, but requires a schedule for installation in your new home, without incurring significantly higher costs to complete.

Planning for the mitigation of radon in your new home

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I should be a control radon?

!±8± I should be a control radon?

My answer to homeowners and potential home buyers are wondering whether to get a radon control: yes, so be sure not to overload (check for local radon inspectors / testers on a series of market prices). In my opinion, prevention is better than cure.

What is radon? Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless noble gas, as natural as a decay product of uranium. The gas occurs naturally in igneous rocks and soil samples, butOccasionally found in well water as well.

Radon is a threat to his health because of its radioactive properties. Earlier, however, is the fact that it is not detectable by people without the proper equipment. This allows gas to be present in the house and you would never know.

Research has shown that radon gas can accumulate from natural sources in buildings and homes, especially in confined spaces such as attics and basements. Once inside the apartment,gas can be inhaled or swallowed (for example, from radon-rich water) through the house residents. After entering the body, radioactive particles will then damage the cells lining the lungs. Finally, it can lead to lung cancer. The problem is, it usually takes years for the onset of symptoms that the person to the possibility of the presence of radon in the home would be careful.

Fortunately, in recent years there has been an increased awareness of radon gas and its possible effects on health has beenPeople exposed to the gas. According to the Agency for the protection of the United States' Environmental (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking, that 21 000 deaths from lung cancer each year in the United States from the sky. Start to people who smoke, have to suffer even greater risk of lung cancer.

It is estimated that 1OUT radon concentrations increased from 5 real estate specified. Some areas of the United States, but they are worse than others. For example, Iowa andAppalachian Mountain region in southeastern Pennsylvania have the highest average concentration of radon presumably (for more statistics was the level of radon can be found in the map http://www.epa.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html EPA.

New Jersey, in particular, several counties that the EPA (if the maximum amount that may be present in a house) with an average of radon levels under 4 pCi / L scored.

NJ The regions with the highest concentrations of radon are:
•Hunterdon
• Mercer
• Monmouth
• Morris
• Somerset
• Sussex
• Warren

The EPA and Surgeon General recommend all homes be tested for radon. This is where my "better safe than sorry rational" comes into play. I'm with people who have told me that they feel is necessary because radon control the hosts have friends who live in the area, he said, speaking not found that radon in their homes. This may be true, andHome you are looking to buy radon to be free, but if he does? What if this dangerous gas is odorless and soaring into the air in your house slowly and harm you and your family?

Ultimately, one must ask whether the tax or a flat fee for a check Radon is worth compared to potential long-term medical consequences of hosting detected radon in the home is.

I should be a control radon?

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